“The He took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it to them, saying
‘Drink from it, all of you.’ ”

 

Matthew 26:28

 

St Laurence & the Holy Grail

      The Holy Chalice of Valencia

She examines available early records about the life of St Laurence, including accounts by Gonzalo de Berceo, the Passio Polychronii by Pope St Damasus, Prudentius, Nigel of Canterbury, Patrick J. Healy, and Abbot St Donato.

By comparing all accounts, she seeks commonality, with a view to confirming the validity of the version presented by St Donato. His account was written in the sixth century, and translated in 1636 by Father Buenaventura Ausina. The account of St Donato is in prose, rather than the other poetic versions, and Bennett asserts that this makes it less likely to be embellished.

The life of St Laurence according to St Donato is certainly readable, and explains much of his younger life with his parents, and also provides valid explantions for some of the confusion about St Laurence such as his birthplace, and the names of his persecutors. One other thing is important – St Donato describes how, when Pope St Sixtus II entrusted St Laurence with the Treasures of the Church, it included one additional item – the chalice used by Jesus at the Last Supper, taken to Rome by St Peter, and used by all popes celebrating mass in Rome afterwards.

After the death of St Laurence, the cup was taken to Spain, initially to Huesca, but then moved to various places for protection. In 1071, it was taken to the Monastero di San Juan de la Peña where it remained until 1416 when it was moved to Valencia.

Is this cup the famed Holy Grail? We can never know, but the account presented by Bennett is certainly believable and well researched. Read it for yourself and reach your own conclusions but if you are ever in Valencia, make a point of going to see it.

The Grail altar in Valencia Cathedral